‘Serious questions’ for Police Scotland over proposal to record Isla Bryson as female on sex offenders register

Police Scotland has “serious questions to answer” over the potential recording of rapist Isla Bryson as female on the sex offenders register, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

An internal document seen by Sky News discussed the handling of Bryson when released from prison, which stated “they may be recorded as a female with the name Isla Bryson”.

It added that Bryson’s “trans history” would also be retained on police systems.

Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said this was a “jaw-dropping revelation”.

She said: “If they were prepared to allow a double rapist to be registered as a woman, it’s not just grotesque and offensive, it appears to completely contradict what the chief constable and her deputy said last week regarding their position on gender self-ID.

“The SNP’s reckless self-ID policy, which only the Scottish Conservatives opposed, has become embedded in public bodies for far too long.

“Common sense tells you that this vile predator should always be referred to as a male.

“Police bosses and SNP ministers must urgently come clean as to why this insulting, out-of-touch policy was ever adopted, and reassure the public that it has been ditched for good.”

Bryson was jailed for raping two women – one in 2016 and one in 2019 – at the start of 2023, but was initially remanded in custody in Cornton Vale women’s prison in Stirling while awaiting sentencing. Bryson was later moved to a male prison.

However, questions have remained over how Bryson would be recorded in the system.

Police Scotland last week told MSPs that any “man who commits rape or serious sexual assaults will be recorded as a male”. 

And chief constable Jo Farrell told the media that “you can only commit that crime as a man.” 

But the latest leaked dossier was considering how Bryson would be dealt with following release from prison.

It said: “When this individual comes back into contact with Police Scotland it would likely be a public protection matter in the management of sex offenders.

"In this instance they may be recorded as a female with the name Isla Bryson, however the trans history would be appropriate to be retained on relevant policing systems."

This would mean Bryson would be recorded as female on the crime database and sex offenders register.

A Police Scotland spokesperson told Sky News: “This report from 2023 set out proposals on potential future recording practices and standards in relation to sex and gender from a data analysis perspective.

“The chief constable addressed the matter of gender self-identification at the Scottish Police Authority board in September 2024, during which Police Scotland committed to a broader review.”